Tulsa Pipeline Expo Plans Big For 2nd Event

Shawn Lowman, president of the Tulsa Pipeline Expo, discusses equipment details during the first TPE last fall.

The second annual Tulsa Pipeline Expo will be held Sept. 1 – 3, at the historic QT Center, formerly known as the International Petroleum Expo building at the Tulsa, OK, fairgrounds. The Tulsa Pipeline Expo (TPE) was created in 2009 and designed to showcase the thriving industries of energy and infrastructure in the Tulsa area, said TPE President Shawn Lowman.

“Our goal is to promote Tulsa business for the industry and associated businesses,” Lowman explained. "We want to help reaffirm that there are still a great many manufacturing, products and service companies to the pipeline market right here in Tulsa. We are also doing our part in stimulating the Tulsa economy by putting on this event.”

In addition to Lowman, other officers of the non-profit TPE include Bill Solomon, executive director, and Terry Flynn, vice president. All work for a Tulsa-area company but have taken on additional roles to organize and promote the TPE.

The group has established lofty goals. “We hope to create an annual event that is well recognized across the Unites States by contractors,” explained Lowman. “We hope to grow and expand the TPE to be an informative, educational and fun event that contractors always want to attend.

“We have taken pieces from the various events that we annually attend and put them all together for one big event where there is a little bit of something for everyone. We are working on a couple of venues still yet for this year so that should anyone wish to bring their spouse, they won't feel left out,” he added.

“The TPE is designed for pipeline contractors along with utility, infrastructure, highway and even general contractors as well. The pipeline is certainly a focus but the water, sewer and sanitary markets would benefit from the TPE as well,” Lowman stressed.

The event kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 1, with registration open from 1 – 4 p.m. at the host Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, located near the Tulsa Fairgrounds. Buses will then depart for ONEOK Field for a baseball game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals. The Tulsa Drillers are a Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major league baseball team. Prior to the game, TPE attendees will be treated to a presentation by famous football coach Gene Stallings, followed by a private dinner and the baseball game where seats have been reserved behind third base.